President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has defended his government’s anti-corruption record, citing unprecedented investment in accountability institutions during his final State of the Nation Address on January 3, 2025.
“The tools needed to exact accountability have been considerably sharpened,” he said, highlighting a 274% funding increase for the Police Service, a 258% boost for the Audit Service, and a 162% rise for the Office of the Attorney General.
The President pointed to the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) as a defining move in the fight against corruption.
“This office symbolised our determination to tackle corruption head-on,” he said. Although its creation was met with initial skepticism, President Akufo-Addo insisted it has proven to be an important contributor to anti-corruption efforts.
Legislative reforms
Highlighting legislative reforms, he noted the passage of the Criminal Offenses Amendment Act of 2020, which elevated corruption from a misdemeanor to a felony with harsher penalties of 12 to 25 years in prison.
Additionally, the Witness Protection Act of 2018 was introduced to safeguard individuals who cooperate with law enforcement, especially in corruption cases. Other key laws included the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Revenue Administration Amendment Act, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, which strengthened Ghana’s institutional framework to combat corruption and ensure accountability.
President Akufo-Addo stressed that all allegations of corruption levelled against his appointees were thoroughly investigated by independent state institutions. “In general, these investigations dismissed the claims as unfounded,” he stated.
The President also addressed the financial sector reforms initiated under his administration, describing them as necessary to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s financial system.
He said the reforms were crucial to addressing inequalities and irregularities in affected banks and financial institutions, which threatened the sector’s stability and the savings of millions of Ghanaians.
“Our actions ensured that not a single depositor lost their money, an unprecedented achievement in financial crisis management,” he said.
He praised the results of the reforms, saying they have created “a more robust, stable, and resilient banking sector capable of driving economic growth and supporting the aspirations of our people.”
Legacy
As he prepares to leave office, President Akufo-Addo ended his remarks by expressing confidence in the legacy of institutional strengthening and policy reforms left by his government.
“We equipped our institutions with the tools to act, ensuring transparency and accountability for generations to come,” he stated.
